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Title: Mega Man X6: False Awakening
Chapter: Stage 02 "We will destroy the Zero Nightmare!"
Special Mention: SilverHerron, mysteriousguy898, I love you two! Also, I guess I'll come clean: no matter how much I joke about homoeroticism, there is no actual gay. (There is no het either, despite Alia being the real second main character.)
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"Z... Zero?!"
Alia's shocked exclamation mirrored X's feelings.
The strange figure that had struck down the Mechaniloid certainly looked like Zero. Or at least, it had his shape. But it wasn't the same. It wasn't even a Reploid. If anything, it resembled a hologram. The edges continually blurred, and static ran over its form. The entire thing was off color, as if put through a filter.
The bizarre energy that had saturated the area died down, making the mysterious figure stand out even more in X's sights.
"X..." Alia's voice came over the comm, staticy and clipped, "the readings I'm getting are..."
"I know," X replied. Raising his voice, he called out, "What are you? Who created you? What for?" The image of Zero flickered in and out, but there was no reply. "Answer me!"
As if a frame had been cut out, the apparition disappeared and then suddenly reappeared in a combat stance - Zero's combat stance, one hand reaching back for his saber. X's hand tightened around the real Saber in his hand.
Its voice, if it could be called that, cut across his systems, making X wince. "DESTROY... DESTROY... DESTROY YOU!" it 'said', the sensation akin to the screech of overstressed metal.
"...It can't talk normally?" X bit out, though he suspected Alia could no longer hear him.
Then, there was no time to think as it disappeared again, only to appear on top of him, phantom saber drawn and burning with the same ghostly light. X dashed to the side, barely avoiding the shockwave that followed the slash.
"BLUE... LIGHT... KILL... KILL!" it shrieked, grating against X's sensors; he wasn't even sure which ones.
The ghost raised its saber again, but before it could swing, a sphere of energy crashed into it, throwing the apparition into disarray. Its form twisted, half there, half not, and suddenly vanished.
"X, above you!" Alia called out suddenly, her transmission startlingly clear.
X's eyes darted up, instantly fastening on the large black shape that descended from the sky. It appeared to be a massive Reploid, floating just out of reach with his arms spread wide.
"I knew Zero was the cause of this," the Reploid intoned, his voice flat and emotionless.
"Who are you?" X demanded, the stranger's words setting him on edge.
"I am called High Max," the black Reploid replied. "I am investigating the Zero Nightmare."
"Zero... Nightmare...?" X repeated, half bemused, half incredulous. What did that even mean? The apparition just then? Had it appeared before?
High Max ignored him. "What is your connection to the Zero Nightmare?" he asked instead.
"What group do you belong to?" X shot back. "Who do you work for?"
High Max continued to regard him expressionlessly. Though, his model appeared to be one not capable of much expression. Had he been built recently? By whom?
"I am a Maverick Hunter, responding to the incident here. If you know something about the reason that Mechaniloid went Maverick, I will have to ask you come with me to the Hunter Base," X tried. "I want to know about this Zero Nightmare, too."
That drew a reaction. Energy began to gather in High Max's hands. "You are dangerous," he stated, beginning to rise. "I'll dispose of you."
He brought his hands together, the energy coalescing into a single giant sphere that shot toward X. The Hunter jumped out of the way, firing a charged shot at the giant. It reflected off harmlessly, not even tarnishing High Max's dark armor.
"Alia!" X called, dodging another energy blast.
"We have nothing on him!" she replied. "He doesn't exist in our database. His energy readings are also strange. We're blind here, X!"
That wasn't good. During his repairs, the data on the Reploids he had faced had been lost, as was often the case. His other armors were also out of commission. He had no other weapons except his Buster. No. He had one more. X gripped the Saber tighter, looking for an opening to close in on High Max. If his Buster didn't work, Zero's power might be enough.
But before he could attempt it, High Max drew back, floating further out of reach. The energy he had been channeling dissipated as he seemed to lose interest in the match.
"Unimpressive, Maverick Hunter," High Max declared. "You are not needed here. We will destroy the Zero Nightmare."
With only those cryptic words, he teleported out, leaving X staring at the sky. "What's happening?" X wondered. "Just what is the Zero Nightmare?" He shook his head. "Alia. I'm returning."
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The Hunter Base was in an uproar when X arrived, more so than when he had left. This wasn't the hurried chaos that followed in the wake of the Eurasia Crisis, of too much that needed to be done urgently and not enough people to do it. This was wild agitation and upheaval.
Alia barely glanced at him as he entered. Signas was already there, looking up at the giant screen with a set expression.
The image displayed was of a Reploid researcher, modeled on a distinguished older man. "It's broadcasting across the world. The message data ids him as Isoc," Alia said tersely, as the Reploid on screen gestured grandly.
"This message is for all the Reploids of the world!" he began his speech. "These are chaotic, disturbing times. A 'Nightmare' is upon us! It shows us strange dreams... no, nightmares! The Nightmare phenomenon confuses Reploids and even causes malfunction or self-termination. It is said that the Nightmare phenomena are caused by... the ghost of the ace Maverick Hunter, Zero..."
"What?!" X burst out. "What is he saying?!"
"Wait, X," Alia cautioned distractedly. "Let him finish."
Scowling, X fell silent and listened as Isoc continued.
"It comes from the wreckage of Eurasia. So many of us were already wiped out in the Crisis. Were those sacrifices not enough?" He paused and shook his head regretfully. "To study these Nightmare phenomena, we have dispatched eight investigators to the suspected areas. They will uncover the Nightmare's mysteries."
X glanced at Alia, wondering exactly who this Isoc was and what group he was supposed to represent. This sort of thing would usually fall under Maverick Hunter jurisdiction. An area deemed dangerous would be sealed off by the government, and trespassing by any civilians, no matter their intentions, would be seen as a crime. But in the wake of the Eurasia Crisis, the government was in shambles, scattered across underground bunkers, and the Hunters were stretched to the point of breaking.
X only wished he could trust this sudden assistance. Alia's quick head shake, showing they had no information on Isoc, only deepened his suspicions.
"Now! Unite with us and help our cause! Work with these eight investigators! Our goal is to wipe out the Nightmare... and to delete Zero's ghost!" X scowled, whatever willingness he had to give Isoc the benefit of the doubt quickly disappearing. "Come together for our future! This is the leader of our mission," the image shifted as Isoc gestured to the giant black reploid beside him, the same one X had just encountered, "High Max!"
This was just getting more and more suspicious.
"We will protect you if you join us. Let's preserve our future together! We're waiting for you, everyone!"
Isoc paused for a moment, as if anticipating applause from an invisible audience, before his image shifted and he raised his hands as in the beginning of the video.
"It just loops after this," Alia reported, the video feed muting and minimizing to one corner of the screen.
"How dare he talk about Zero that way!" X scowled. "Zero gave his life to save everyone!"
"It's not surprising. We saw that Nightmare too. It looked like Zero," Alia pointed out reluctantly. "And the readings we got from it were a lot like the Zero Virus that had formed after Eurasia's crash."
X turned away angrily. Alia didn't even know all the details of what happened at the Eurasia crash site, and she still came to that conclusion. He hadn't reported about the things Zero and Sigma had said or about the way Zero had acted. He hadn't thought it mattered, not when Zero had ultimately fought with X and saved him with his last breath. X wanted Zero to be remembered as the hero he was. He just hoped that information wouldn't prove to be vital after all.
Watching him with sympathy, Alia said, "First, we need to find out what the Nightmare is. For now, leave Isoc and High Max alone. I'll see what I can find about them."
X nodded, centering himself. "Alright. What about those 'suspected areas' he mentioned?"
"...There is too much interference for us to monitor things from here. It might be the same energy that made your sensors malfunction at the crash site," she reported. "According to our data, all those areas were hit by pieces of Eurasia. Strange phenomena were reported before we lost contact. Acid rain, magma behaving unnaturally, sudden darkness, all kinds of things."
"Then I'll have to go in blind," X decided. "Maybe I'll be able to get some useful readings directly. Besides," he added, "there's something suspicious about those investigators."
"Get fixed up properly first," Signas ordered, turning to X suddenly, his ability to multitask and follow several conversations at once again catching X off guard. "Or at least your armor. Perhaps Dr. Light will be able to provide some help as well." He held X's gaze, trying to convey the seriousness of his words. "X, considering the situation in these areas and the state of the Maverick Hunters, there is no one else we can send. Now that we've lost Zero, you are the only one left."
Something about those words sounded familiar, leaving X feeling shaken. They settled across his shoulders heavily, like a premonition of dread. But under Signas's gaze, all he could do was nod.
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"The new armor is complete," the hologram of Dr. Light informed X somberly. "I call it the Blade Armor."
"Blade?" X repeated in surprise, looking over the new parts that had been installed. The color scheme and shape was similar to the Falcon Armor, but he could feel a difference as well.
"Yes. I upgraded the Falcon Armor with advanced sensor and scanning capabilities. It also has a special weapon." The transparent image of the doctor smiled as X activated the blade in his right gauntlet and looked at it in mixed wonder and melancholy. "I installed that Saber directly into the armor, so it can now be charged, like your Buster."
"Thank you," X said quietly, allowing the Saber to slide back into place. "It means a lot to me."
"Even though I wanted you to live in a warless era, all I can do is give you this armor. I wonder when peace will return..." Dr. Light shook his head. "Forgive me. I know you must put an end to this Nightmare. I'll be praying for your safety. Good luck."
The hologram faded out, leaving X alone. "Zero," he said quietly, laying one hand on his new gauntlet, "I won't let your reputation be damaged. I won't let you be treated like some pawn. Wherever you are, lend me your strength."
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Notes: You know what I don't get? Why is "Reploid" capitalized, while "investigator" is not? It keeps throwing me off. Everything else gets capitals! Space Colony gets capitals! (Not to mention there doesn't seem to be any consistency across games about this.)
Keep in mind, I wrote this story to straighten out for myself what happened in X6 and the bizarre concepts involved, so don't expect any amazing story line or fight scenes or, you know, characterization. (:V) It's also very short, 10 chapters and under 20,000 words.
I try to keep most of the meta-physics true to the games, but the stuff with Zero/Zero Nightmare's situation is made up whole-cloth. Because the game sure didn't explain it any of it.
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